A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide

A Primer on Prostate Cancer

A Warrior’s Guide to Defeating Prostate Cancer

The importance of prevention and early diagnosis of prostate cancer is critical to combating this disease that strikes over 180,000 men every year.

For the warriors in this battle who have been newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, and for their families and loved ones, A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient’s Guide, serves as a guidebook to the successful management of this epidemic disease.

The Primer’s primary purpose is to utilize the clinical experience of a medical oncologist who has specialized in prostate cancer to address the issues and realities encountered by men and women touched by prostate cancer. Many of the suggestions for topics in the Primer came from men who have experienced prostate cancer and from their partners. Written by Dr. Stephen B. Strum, a board certified medical oncologist specializing in prostate cancer and co-founder of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, and Donna Pogliano, partner of a warrior in the battle against prostate cancer and award-winning prostate cancer activist, this book is a comprehensive guide on the basics of prostate cancer, diagnosis and testing procedures, and the numerous treatment options.

Also included:

~ Full color illustrations and photos
~ Notes sections for readers
~ Case studies
~ Chapter summaries
~ List of additional resources

Within the 368 pages of this full-color in-depth book on prostate cancer, newly diagnosed men have access to the vital information that those who have experienced prostate cancer consider indispensable. Armed with this education, the prostate cancer patient has the ammunition to become empowered and involved in intelligently managing his own care.

Dr. Stephen B. Strum

Dr. Stephen B. Strum began his medical oncology practice in 1973. He collaborated with Dr. Fernand Labrie in 1983 on the use of combined androgen blockade in the treatment of prostate cancer- six years prior to FDA approval of Eulexin® (flutamide) and Lupron® (leuprolide). As a result of this pioneering work, his entire oncology practice was soon focused solely on prostate cancer.

A member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Urological Association (AUA), Dr. Strum has presented original clinical research at the annual meetings of both organizations. He has authored papers on the anemia of androgen deprivation and its correction with erythropoietin, androgen deprivation syndrome, and intermittent androgen deprivation.

In 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000, Dr. Strum planned and moderated, as well as participated in, four national prostate cancer conferences – directed primarily at the PC survivor and his partner. He has volunteered his services in many forums to counsel patients regarding their course of treatment. An online service he helped to create is called p2p, or Patients to Physicians. In October 1996, Dr. Strum co-founded the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) and was the main contributor to its Web site and newsletter (PCRI Insights), and was the principal educator of the PCRI Helpline staff. He is a sought after lecturer, author and consultant. Above all, he is passionate in his care of and for patients with prostate cancer.

Dr. Strum and his wife, Miwha, currently live in Playa del Rey, California.

Donna Pogliano

Donna Pogliano is the partner of a warrior in the battle against prostate cancer. In the process of attempting to provide comfort and good counsel to subscribers of various Internet mailing lists, the idea for A Primer on Prostate Cancer was born. Many of the suggestions for material in the Primer came from men who have experienced prostate cancer and from their partners. The Primer is an attempt to consolidate the wisdom of their experience in one conveniently accessed location.

Since many men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have no access to the Internet and e-mail information, the goal was to publish a print version of the Primer to be distributed for those men and their families. With the realization of this dream, all newly diagnosed men have access to this information that those who have experienced prostate cancer feel is indispensable.

Donna Pogliano is the recipient of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition’s Mary Lou Wright Distinguished Leadership Award, honoring her work in raising awareness through the Governor’s Prostate Cancer Proclamation Project. She has also been inducted into the Honorary Order of the Walnut for her work as a prostate cancer activist.

Donna Pogliano lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her son, Gian, and with her favorite patient and prostate cancer poster boy, Dick.